Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1887-04-01
at ashingtun Stanaara
BOTTLES BABY.
CHAPTER II.


rao.'S, and Bottles found the greater part Of
his brother officers ready and willing to take
Miles view of the affair, whether in chaff or
downright good earnest he could not say.
"Halloo! Boobies, my man." shouted one
When lie entered, whats this story we hear!
l. roSs 10 thai Boo'l4s-our immaculate
aEd philanthrop-cal boote>-Oh. Bootlesl
booties! how arr the mighty fallenm
'HeyF inquired Bottles, sweetiy.
III wouldn't have believed it of you,
BOTTLES: wouldn't indeed ANY other fell
low Ill the regiment-that soft-headed Lacy
grinning over there for instance-but our
Bodies" He broke Off as if words could
not express the volumes he thought, but
found his tongue AMI went on again before
Bottles could open his mouth. "Our Bottles
with an acknowledged wife sworn not to
dis lose her marriaye-our Bottles with q
b; Your Bottles paIar' Oh lorI'
WHY didn't you manage better, BootlesT
cli i anot.er. You might have sent her
a. Odd flyer now and then. You have
nj"
rs sic pretty, Bootlc;f' asked third.
Was ter, by any chance q flaw in the
marriageN irq'.:rel fourth
do you think I'm a foolf' asked BOTTLES
pleasan,. v. Il tell you it's plant. l know
AptuluS dDOuI tuo CItdIuT6.
'Just m view," struck in Miles. "Jls.
what l said last night It's absurd, you
know, to expect him to own it. No fellow
would Besides, does Bottles look like the
father Of a fine bouncing baby that goes
'Chucka, chucka, chucKr It's absurd, you
know"
Even Bottles Joined in the laugh which
followed, and Miles continued:
The only thing Island it really Is awk-
ward for Bootles-;he extraordinary like
ness. Blue eyes, golden hair, fair complex
ion. I should say myself"-looking at his
comrade critically-''that at the same age
Bottles was just such baby as that which
turned up so mysteriously last night"
''That's as may be. Any way, the young
ster is not mine" said Boobies. emphatically;
land what to do with the little beggar !
don't know"
''Send it back to it's mother" suggested
Dawson.
But don't know who the mother is"
BOTTLES answered, impatiently.
"Oh, no; SO you say. Well, then, the brat
must have growed, like Topsy. II l were
you should send it to the police station"
THE police stationl Oh, no; hang it all,
the poor little bsggar has done nothing to
start the world in that way" Bottles an.
swered.
ibid any one of you," asked Miles of the
general company, lever hear Of a chap
called Solomon
"-er-did," answered Lacy, promptly.
'sHis other name was-er-Fligg. The Rev
erend Solomon Fligg"
''Oh, we've all heard Of him! But meant
rather mora celebrated person. There Is q
.Aa-v about himI rather think it's in
prCvorhcSS-os ioifiny vol NJ asS~
mot Proverbsl Well, perhaps it's in this
Song Of Solomon. It's about two mothers,
who each had a baby, and one Of them man.
aged to smother hers in the night, and find
ing it dead when she woke upin the morning,
claimed the other baby. OF course the other
woman kicked up row. regular shindy,
and they came before Solomon to get the
matter settled Both claim it, said he.
oh, chop it in half, and let each have q
share" But you all know the rest. How
the real mother gave up her claim sooner
than see the child halved Now in this case.
you see, Boobies hasn't the heart to send the
child of to the police station, as hs would
If"
"Here's the colonel" said some one at
this point, and in less than two seconds he
appeared
'Why, Ferrers," he said, "rve been hear
ing queer tale about you"
"Yes, sir" said Bottles, dismally, land
where it will end Idon't knowi Here am ]
saddled-"
''Well, Of course you know whether the
child has any claim upon you" the colonel
began.
upon my honor it has not, colonel" said
Boobies, earnestly.
'Then that, Of course, settles the question"
replied the colonel, with frown at thegrin-
ming faces along the table II should send
the child to thu workhouse Immediately"
1.-THE workhouseT repeated Boobies, re-
hectively.
''rn bet any one a flyer he DON'T muir.
INJURED Miles to his neighbour
mot he. Mime. la Mere knew what she
was doing when she picked out Boobies.
He'll get one Of the sergeants' wives to look
after it; see if be don't"
After the chief had left the room Bootle;
continued his breakfast in silence, consider.
ing the two suggestions for the disposal Of
the child. Now, il the truth be told, Boobies
had horror Of workhouses. He had gone
deeply into the ''Casual" question, and pitied
tramp from the very Utmost recesses Of his
kind heart. 1t fairly made him sick to
think Of that benny golden head growing
up among the shorn and unlovelv locks of 8
pauper brood-to think Of the little soft
fingers that had twined themselves 30 conf
IDENTIFY about his own, and had picked at the
embroideries Of his mess waistcoat, being
slapped by the matron. or set, as soon a.
they should be strong enough to do coarse
and hard word, to develop into the unnatu
rally widened and unkempt hand Of MAR
chioness'-to think Of that little dainty thing
being nourished on skilly, or ON whatever
hard fare pauper children are fed-to think
of that little aristocrat being brought w
among the children Of thieves and vaga,
bondsi
''Oh, ccnfound it all" he broke out, 81
can't"
II never expected you could" retorte'
N;les ut wouldn't bs natural If you did
This time Boobies did not laugh; on til.
contrary, he looked up and regarded Nile
with grave and searching gaze, rather di,
concerting to that quizzical young gentle
man.
Are you judging me out of your owl
buShelF he asked
'Howi What do you meanr Miles stam.
mered.
do you happen to know anything Of the
Watterf Boobies persisted.
ut Oh, no. On my honor don't"
settles the question. You're a very witty
fellow, Miles, very. l shouldn't wonder
after q while, il you amt quite tn SHARP
man Of the regiment Only your jokes arr
like thu clIw WINS jokes at the circus-one get
to know them. They're in this kind Of way
Ever been in Paris Mr.. Landof
"'Yes Of course, Bell
Ever been in Vienna, Mr.. LAndoF
"'To be sure, Bell
Ever been in Geneva, Mr.. Landof
"'Of course have, Bell
Ever been in Jail, Mr.. Landof
"'Of course have, Bell-at least-thati
to say-I mean-no, Of course haven't
"'Why, Mr.. Lando. sa,c you there
"'You saw me in Jail, Belt And what
were YOU doing to see mef
"Ohr grandly, 4 was staying with tn
governor for the good Of my 'ealth.'
"'And hadn't stealing cow something t.
do with it, eh, Relf
"sYah. Who stole watchS
IA Jersey COW, eh, Bellf
"'Yah. What time is it. Mr. La1dof
"Just about milking time, Bell, my